Appendix C: Consumer Update on Wireless Phones167Appendix C: Consumer Update on WirelessPhonesU.S. Food and Drug Administration1. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?The term wireless phone refers here to hand-held wirelessphones with built-in antennas, often called cell, mobile, orPCS phones. These types of wireless phones can exposethe user to measurable radio frequency energy (RF)because of the short distance between the phone and theuser s head. These RF exposures are limited by FederalCommunications Commission safety guidelines that weredeveloped with the advice of FDA and other federal healthand safety agencies. When the phone is located at greaterdistances from the user, the exposure to RF is drasticallylower because a person’s RF exposure decreases rapidlywith increasing distance from the source. The so-called“cordless phones,” which have a base unit connected to thetelephone wiring in a house, typically operate at far lowerpower levels, and thus produce RF exposures well withinthe FCC’s compliance limits.2. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?The available scientific evidence does not show that anyhealth problems are associated with using wireless phones.There is no proof, however, that wireless phones areabsolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while beingused. They also emit very low levels of RF when in thestand-by mode. Whereas high levels of RF can producehealth effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RFthat does not produce heating effects causes no known
